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The results came soon after a rally outside the college by staff, students and union members who protested with placards and signs against the cuts yesterday.

Among them was Rachel Anderson is a second-year textiles degree student. She said: "The future of higher education arts in Hull is at risk because all the BA courses are being changed to foundation degrees.

"Stall morale is very low, our lecturers don't know what is happening to their jobs and all this in the year after Hull was the City of Culture. It's just wrong."

UCU regional official Julie Kelley said: "The overwhelming vote for strike action reflects the strength of anger amongst staff about these job cuts.

"The proposals would be deeply damaging for the college, its students and the local community. Staff feel they now have no option but to take strike action to defend jobs.

CUTS: Hull College Group is planning to axe 231 posts, including 180 at its main campus in Hull (pictured)

"They have little confidence in a senior management team that either doesn’t understand employment law, or has taken to deliberately misinforming staff to try and bully them out of protesting."

In a statement, the college said: "Industrial action will not resolve the group's financial and operational issues and we remain committed to an ongoing consultation which seeks to minimise potential job losses and support affected staff.

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"We urge our union colleagues to work productively with us trhrough this process and avoid the inevitable disruption the result of this ballot will cause for our current students and ability to recruit new ones.

"We are also aware of a number of planned protests in the city which sadly detract from out students' achievements and the excellent learning opportunities which continue to be offered at all of our sites."